Jesus Changes Everything!

Notes: Jesus Changes Everything!
Author: Eric Metaxas
Sunday, August 26, 2018
2 Corinthians 5:17
Music: Harvest Worship Band

Eric wrote a biography about William Wilberforce. 1807 is when Wilberforce helped abolish slavery in the British Empire.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Jesus is not trying to improve you, He is making you a new creation.

We are what Jesus has here, He gave us the Holy Spirit. If we don’t do what He wants then it doesn’t get done.

In 1759 is when Wilberforce was born. He was born into a effectively very pagan society. They cared very little for the poor.

It is the Christian view that said we should help the poor and that slavery is wrong.

In London back then 25% of all single women were in prostitution. The slave trade was a booming business for their economy. George IV had been known for sleeping with 7000 women. He was going to be king.

Only the poor were really being preached to. The wealthy would look down at those enthusiastic about their faith.

Wilberforce was shipped off to live with his aunt and uncle at the age of 9. His parents did not know they were funding the Methodist movement. When he was 12 his parents brought him back and after four years they got him to not follow his aunt and uncles faith. At the age of 16 he went to Cambridge. At the age of 20 he gets elected to Parliament. His friend William the Younger was elected to Prime Minister at the age of 24.

When Wilberforce took a trip with Isaac Milner he found his faith again. John Newton was visited by Wilberforce, Newton influences Wilberforce to stay in politics to serve with his faith.

Wilberforce took on all kinds of social reform issues. He oversaw a revolution of public reform.

In his lifetime, he led the British Empire to end slavery. 

Jesus changes everything.

Jesus used Wilberforce to change the world. He can can use you to change the world.